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Drinking alot - High PH in urine (vet appintment will be booked tommorrow)

breakawayfromme

breakawayfromme

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Hi firsty apolgies to be making another post so soon!

Basically one of my pigs has always drank more water than any piggy ive ever had (I no it can vary alot), he was with a friend until a few days ago (had to seperate), they had 2 bottles so I coudlent really moniter who was drinking what.

Well since hes been alone and ive seen just how much, were talking 3/4 a bottle a day
Ive just got a urine sample from piggy and done a strip test and his PH is 7/7.5....

As I said I plan to call the vets tommorrow and book an appotment, unfortunetley i'm away all late afternoon/evening so unless they have anything free tommorrow morning it will have to be booked for another day.

Does anyone have any insight in to this or what the issue could be, diabetes? kidneys?
Thanks
 
Perhaps compare to his friend to see if there is any significant difference? Beyond that I don't know anything about piggy pee pH...
 
However, drinking large amounts is not normal if this is a change for your piggy. It can be a sign of infection - in which case you would normally expect to see raised leukocytes and nitrites. Is there any presence of blood?
 
VickiA said:
However, drinking large amounts is not normal if this is a change for your piggy. It can be a sign of infection - in which case you would normally expect to see raised leukocytes and nitrites. Is there any presence of blood?
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I apolgise I think i have read the chart wrong, ill need to double check
 
breakawayfromme said:
All the other colours match the "normal" chart

The colour of the urine was normal and whenevr ive emptied the litter tray the shavings are normal colour you would expect from urine
He has always drank loads since ive had him, i just didnt realise quite how much
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Is your "normal" chart specific for guinea pig urinalysis, from a veterinary text book or research paper using that particular test strip?
 
The pH is only abnormal if you’re using human test strips. Piggies’ urine pH is much higher (turns dark straight away on my strips). If all else is normal, just monitor him and get him checked if you’re concerned.
 
Hi here is a photo, does anyone have more experience at this? Thanks
 

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I really would be getting a vet to use their own preferred test strip and to compare it to a guinea pig specific urinalysis chart.
I always go to the vet, and our last set of urine tests cost just £11. The vet will want to do their own anyway, check protein, glucose, blood, maybe bilirubin or other liver function parameters... I was writing a lecture on this today, and I would still always go to the vet, a piggy savvy vet will do a hundred of these every year and know exactly what normal looks like and what is indicative of different illnesses in piggies specifically.
Kidneys, liver, diabetes, bladder infection, all except a minor bladder infection will then require a follow-up blood test anyway probably, and/or an ultrasound scan. Drinking a lot is more indicative of kidney or liver issues, or diabetes, than an infection- but some pigs do drink more than others and it may be nothing to worry about- or, it will require more advanced diagnostics.
 
PigglePuggle said:
I really would be getting a vet to use their own preferred test strip and to compare it to a guinea pig specific urinalysis chart.
I always go to the vet, and our last set of urine tests cost just £11. The vet will want to do their own anyway, check protein, glucose, blood, maybe bilirubin or other liver function parameters... I was writing a lecture on this today, and I would still always go to the vet, a piggy savvy vet will do a hundred of these every year and know exactly what normal looks like and what is indicative of different illnesses in piggies specifically.
Kidneys, liver, diabetes, bladder infection, all except a minor bladder infection will then require a follow-up blood test anyway probably, and/or an ultrasound scan. Drinking a lot is more indicative of kidney or liver issues, or diabetes, than an infection- but some pigs do drink more than others and it may be nothing to worry about- or, it will require more advanced diagnostics.
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Thanks so much
I am defintley going to get him checked
Please dont think I'm trying to aviod the vets here, its just ive spend quite a bit of money on my other pig recently who turned out to be fine (which is great of course)
 
breakawayfromme said:
Thanks so much
I am defintley going to get him checked
Please dont think I'm trying to aviod the vets here, its just ive spend quite a bit of money on my other pig recently who turned out to be fine (which is great of course)
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Hopefully there is nothing wrong, or nothing serious wrong, but only the vet can say for sure.
I took my own piggy to the vet a couple of weeks ago with what I thought was a minor urine infection but the vet thought it may be kidney problems, so she's off for blood tests at a specialist hospital soon- I lecture in this stuff but even I would have made the wrong call if I hadnt seen the vet! Its always different when its your own piggy, you worry too much, assume the worst or hope for the best- the vet is completely objective, so for that reason I always ask the vet myself.
 
Got an appoitment for monday (i'm tied up today, else I would have tried to get sooner)

I did manage to test his friend and its definitley different but I don't no much about these things

thanks for help yesterday
 
I saw the Vet and for now she has given medication to treat for any possible urinary infections and then if not cleared up in a week I go back and she will refer to a exotic vet as there was high protien in his urine sample which she said could indicate kindey problems.
 
I hope for both your sakes it just turns out to be a simple UTI. Your wallet could probably do with the break(!)
My sympathies... we'll be thinking of you and your boys.
 
So he wasnt interested in his veggies tonight....
will this go on for the whole week of medication? (baytril)

I'm not super concered right now as he is eating hay and took some pea flakes

Tyipcal that I try and treat one issue but have now caused another
 
Antibiotics can sometimes upset the appetite. Make sure you weigh him daily so you can keep a closer eye on hay intake and be sure he is definitely eating enough. You can also give a probiotic to help settle his gut

i hope he is ok
 
Piggies&buns said:
Antibiotics can sometimes upset the appetite. Make sure you weigh him daily so you can keep a closer eye on hay intake and be sure he is definitely eating enough. You can also give a probiotic to help settle his gut

i hope he is ok
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Thanks, I'm weighing every say right now anyways
If worst comes to worst I have fibreplex and critcal care on hand

Looks like its going to be a long week....
Considentley I am off work all week (I didnt book, I just let my manager's put down whatever weeks suit them) so weirdly I have time to deal with all these issues
 
A combination of Baytril and the current heat could be affecting the appetite. Well done for weighing daily and being prepared to step in with some top ups if needed. Hopefully it won’t be needed.
 
I finally managed to get an appointment at the exotic vet
£190 for initial consultation and she said they estimated treatment if needed could be £500- £600
And people say guinea pigs are kids pets, there simple etc......
 
My only worry is what can they do in a initial consultation that my vets have not already done? Of course I'll pay but it's of money
 
I've never been to a specialist so I can't advise on what they might do differently.
How are your pigs in themselves these days now you finished the antibiotics? Are they eating by themselves? And how is their weight: for instance gaining/losing/maintaining?
 
He was losing weight so ive been giving one scoop of critcal care a day to maintian which is working and hes gained back now
 
Went to exocitc vet today and he had blood test and full urinalysis, get results some time next week
£610 total so hopefully we will get some answers
 
Oooh sausage! That's a bill that shows a lotta love. I hope you can get some answers for him and that you're all managing OK.
 
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